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A DISPUTE over new board appointments has led to Gold Coast Turf Club (GCTC) chairman Andrew Eggleston resigning three months before his tenure was due to end.
Eggleston had earlier indicated he would not seek re-election at the October AGM, instead wishing to focus on his other business interests. But today he stood down immediately after the GCTC board voted to appoint three new members.
“The directors had a motion to appoint new members to the board and I didn’t think that was the best thing to do only a few months out from the AGM,” says Eggleston.
“We had planned to keep the board to seven directors, which I think is a more workable number than nine or 10. Whether we added to that number I thought should have been left up to the (club) members in October.
“I was outvoted, so rather than stand in the way I thought it was best to resign early and allow them to go about their business.”
Eggleston says his decision was not related to a $1500 fine from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an incident involving a security guard last year.
He holds no animosity towards the club for his early departure and, with business interests in a stud farm at Numinbah Valley, expects to be a regular patron at the GCTC for some time.
“I’ve enjoyed my time as the chairman of the Turf Club and I’ve always played a straight bat,” he says.
“Every decision I’ve made I’ve always stood by and, while I may have copped criticism at time, I’ve stuck to my guns and can leave this position with my head held high.”
Eggleston’s former deputy Brett Cook has been elected as the GCTC’s new chairman. A racehorse owner for 17 years, Cook is a director of Coastal Tipper Hire and All Coast Recycling.
Lawyer and racehorse breeder Jeff Garrett has been voted as the new deputy chairman while race broadcaster Steve Hawkins retains his role as treasurer.
Michael Barry, Michael McCabe and Tom Tate have also retained their board positions; while Heydon Harvey, Simon Quinn and Luke Henderson are the new directorial appointees to GCTC.
“The Club is entering an exciting time with the recent announcement by the Queensland State Government and Racing Queensland for a $35.4 m injection of funds to upgrade the Club,” says Cook.
“The newly-elected Directors will be hitting the ground running and it is with this challenge in mind that the Board selected these quality individuals to help guide the Club through the next stage of development.
“I look forward to working with the entire Board to secure a healthy and viable future for the Gold Coast Turf Club.”
Earlier this month the State Government allocated $35.4 million for the GCTC out of its $110m racing infrastructure package.
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